Apparatus for supplying lime to ammonia-stills.



A J. S. UNGER.

APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING LIME T0 AMMONIA STILLS. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 11, 1908.

9494319 Y Patented June 6,1911.

2 SHEETS-BHEET l.

, J. s. UNGER. 1 APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING LIME T0 AMMONIA STILLS.

APPLIOAVTIONIILBD MP1. 11, 1908.

1 v 1 Patented June 6, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

E5555. INVENTOR TwRNEy UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Joint s. unenn, or cnrcnoo, rumors.-

' APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYI'NG LIME mo AMMQNIA-STILLS.

Specification 0! Letters Patent. I

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, JOHN S. UNGER, a

citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Chicago, in the county of Cook and-State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Supplyin Lime to Ammonia-Stills; and I do hereby declare that the following'is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,- and to the letters of reference marked thereon,which form a part of'this specification. u

In the manufacture of-ammonia from gas liquors, it has become the practice to introduce into the top of the ammonia still the gas liquor containing the ammonia and to also introduce therein the slaked lime to liberate the so-called F fixed ammonia from its combinations with certain acids, and also to inject steam into the bottom of the still which serves to raise and maintain thetemperature at the desired point to enable the nia still, which may. be 'ofthe usual or any. preferred construction, and which, as shown, is provided at its top with a pipe a, to. per.

reactions that are to take place to be most economically performed. As this process has been heretofore conducted and carried on,.a solution of lime water has been continuously delivered to the still and to enable the flow to be continuous, the solution must of necessity be very'thin, otherwise the lime would settle in the tank and receptacles and would clog the pipe and valves, and soon result in stoppage; :Furthermore, to the extent that settling occurs, the proportionof lime' contained in the solution or in suspension in the water is, of course, variable.

The object of this inventionis to provide means for holding a comparatively thick solution of slaked ime and water in an agitated condition and forcing the same pneumatically to a height suitable to permit the same to discharge intoithe ammonia still at the desiredpoint, and also toprovide mechanism for automatically discharging the lime and water into the still in regulable amounts.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a mechanism for regulating and controlling the flow of the lime water whereby said material isautomatically discharged into the still in the de'sired quantity and at the desired rate.

It is furthermore an object of the invention to aflord in connection with a device of the class described apparatus for slaking the a sure tank and thence forcing the same to the required elevation and into the still tures and consists in the matters hereinafter described and more fully pointed out and defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of 4 an ammonia still provided with mechanism embodying my invention for delivering slaked lime and water thereintoi Fig. 2 is an enlarged, vertical section of the timinp valve-G, controlling valve e, and discharging valve E, showing the valve E, closed. Fig.5 is a similar view showing the formof measuring or regulating device and showing the same ready to trip. Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the valve tripped oropened. In th drawings: A, indicates the ammo mit the inflow .thereinto of the gas liquor containingthe ammonia ,Communicating- Extending outwardly and upwardly from.

the side of the still is pipe a, adapted to receive the lime water and to deliver the same into'the still in the path of the downwardly flowing gas liquors to mingle therein. At'itsupper end said pipt is provided with an enlarged end or funnela, into. which the flow of the lime and the water is directed.

Positioned conveniently to the still is an elevated slaking box or receptacle B, which is' provided in one side thereof with a discharge pipe b, controlled by a valve b caused to flow therefrom.- Positioned directly below the discharge pipe 6, from the slaking box is a metallic tank or receptacle G, having connected in its top a hand hole (or man hole) fitting 0, provided with a suitable cover 0 which may be removed to permit the lime and water from the elevated relime for delivering the same into the pres tank C, is also provided in one end with an whereby the slaked lime and water may be ceptacle B, to flow into the tank C. Said Patented June 6, 1911. Application filed September H, 1908. Serial No. 452,560.

The invention embraces many novel fea- .70 timing valve g at its lowest limit of movement and the controlling valve e adjusted. to releasepressure from the discharge valve; E. Fig.4 is a detail of a slightly modified so vided at its upper. end with a spout d,

aperture closed by a hand'hole or man hole plate and which permits of access-to the bottom of the tank to permit of readilycleansing' the same to discharge therefrom the coarse sand, small stones or pebbles and the fragments of stone frequently contained in lime, and which were not sufliciently burned or of a proper nature to be converted into lime or to be broken u .by slaklng. Said mixing tank C, is provi ed initsbottom with an air pipes, having perforat ons therein and operatively connected by'means of a pipe 0, with an air pump 0 whereby air under pressure from said pump may be forced into the mixing: tank continpously, thus keeping the contents of the tankin constant agitation and preventingthe lime seti tling in the bottom of the tank and thusfaiL- 1 ing to deliver intothe still. As shown, said pipe 0, is valved to permit the same to be shut off entirely when it'is desired to open, the mixing tank for the addition of more'lime water. As shown also, said mixing tank is provided with anair cock c and a pressure gages, by the use of whichthe pressure in the tank may be at all times regulated.

Communicating in the tank and extending from near the bottom thereof, is the lime discharge pipe D. This extends upwardly in close re ation with the pipe a, and is pro-- adapted to direct thedischarge from said pipe into-the funnel shaped enda, of the pipe a, and .as shown, a valve is provided to regulate the flow of the lime and water through the pipe atall times andmeans are provided for automatically. actuating the valve to control the flow therethrough tothe still. Forthis purpose, the discharge valve E, is normally held seatedto close the supply pipe D, and the closure thereof is provided with a stem e, which extends upwardly and is connected with a horizontal diaphragm e, in an enlarged chamber above the discharge valve and secured on thevalve' stern e, and bearing against the diaphragm e, is a strong pushing spring 6 which exerts the air chamber by means of valved pipes and connected in the top of said pressure.

chamber is a pipe F which conn' ts with the controlling valve chamber show in Fig. 2. The spring 6'', on said controlling valve closure to hold said closure elevated ,to permit the free flow of air from the pressure tank F, for the pump, upwardly and through said valve, and thence to the diaphragm. in the casin E Means are provided to'reverse sai .controllin valve to cut off the pressure above the diaphra E and for this purpose a. timing mec anism is provided, which, as shown, has a vent valve 9, in the bottom of the casing G, and provided in said-casing G, is a comparatively loose diaphragm 9 to the center of which is end of the stem g, extends. As shown, a heavy weight g, is provided on the upper end of the stem and tendsto normally hold the diaphragm near the lower limit of its is pivotally engaged on the casing G, of -the timing valve and is provided on its front side with a shoulder or tooth g, and at its rear side with a spring '9, which serves to force saiddetent forwardly to the position ,shown in Fig. 2, to engage one end-of a over the top of, and in close proximity with the enlargement on the upper end of the stem e.

Pivotedon the side of the valve casing E, is an upwardly extending rod H, which at its u per end has ivotally engaged there- ..to thefiorizontal rod or bar H, with which is connected the stem k, for the diaphragm e, and also a downwardly extending stem or bar If, onthe lower end of which is a button or enlargement h, adapted to engage and lift'the end of said lever h, which is other end of which extends into position to be engaged by, and is engaged by the detent to hold said lever out of action. Also secured on the stem g, are collars g"g, one above and one below the end-of. said bar H. I I

The. operation is as follows: Having filled or partly filled the mixing, tank with thelime and water, a flow of air is injected into said tank to produce pressure and the air tate the liquid in the mixing tank to prevent any settling and thence the liquid holding the pressure through the pipe discharge valve E, if open, and is tothe pipe a, and the still. Normally the discharge valve is closed and is.held closed by the pflessure from the pipe F and the discharged mally open, as shown in Fig. -2. The apparatusfhaving been adjusted as shown in the vent valve g, the descent of the stem 9 travel. As shown also, a curved detent g,

pivoted upon a supporting rod h",'and the from the pipe 0 serves to thoroughly agithe lime in solution is carried ugwai'dly by 5 the controlling valve e, of which is nor" Fig. 2, the weight 9, causes the diaphragmg, to descend, the air passing 'out throughconnected a rod g, which extends through the wall of the casing and upwardly through a a guide arm 9 through which the upper lever it, the other end" of which extends brings the collar 9, into engagement with. the inclined face of the detent g, retract-- lag the same from the lever 12., whereupon the spring 9, throws the opposite end of said lever downwardly actuating the valve e, to close the pipe F, as shown in Fig. 3, and venting the diaphragm chamber E, by

-means of the apertures 6 (see Fig. 3) permitting the spring c to open the discharge valve E. Pressure from the pump G now ejects lime and water from the tank C, through the pipe D, into the pipe d, from whence it flows to the still. The opening 0 the discharge valve E, lifts the lever H and the stem h. The upward movement of said lever lifts the stem g, raising the diaphragm g, to the position shown in Fig. 2, this movement being made easier by the flap valve 9, which permits ready inflow di air into the diaphragm chamber. The upward movement of the lever H serves also to restore the lever h, into engagement with the detent g. For-this purpose, a rod h, is secured on said lever H and the end thereof is shaped to engage and liftthe free 7 end of the lever h, with the upward movement of the lever H. The cont-rolling valve 6 is now immediately opened by the spring e, thus opening the passage 6 to the diaphragm chamber E ,.whereby the discharge P valve E, is closed by compressed air admitted from pipe F, and the flow of lime and water is'c ut oil.

Of course, the perfect control of the inlet valve e by means of the timing mechanism enables the flow of the lime and water to be perfectly adjusted for either large or small plants, inasmuch as the intervals between discharges and the duration of the discharge can be perfectly controlled by adjustment of the vent valve 9, which permits the air to quickly or slowly escape fromthe chamber and accordingly timing the movement of the valve 9, weightsg, and stem 9 with the collars g and g. If desired, another simple measuring or regulat- .ing device may be employed to automatically discharge into the still ata predetermined rate a quantity of lime and water. For this purpose, a tank or receptacle I, is set up conveniently to the still and the discharge pipe D, from the mixing tank is dif rectcd to the funnel shaped end ofthe pipe 0., before described.

Pivotally supported in the tank I, is a pan 2', provided with an outwardly directed weighted lever 71 which is physically connected by means of a chain 2' with the end of the lever 5 which controls the valve E. Said pan 2', is provided at its end remote from the pivot with a removable bottom section or valve 71", which, when the. receptacle tilts downwardly, as shown in Fig. 5, serves to discharge the contents, causing the levers i, to rise and lifting the lever i", of the discharge valve. Immediately after the pan 1', has dumped its contents it returns to normal position to again collect water from the valved pipe 71*, and slowly. descending, disthrough its valve 2', and discharge pipe I, thus successively opening and closing the discharge valve E, the rate of action, of course, depending on the flow through the may be perfectly regulated to time the dumping of the tank and the consequent opening of the main discharge valve.

Owing to the action of the valve 0', the

pipe a, constantly agitating the mixture. Any suitable' type 'of valve may be used for this purposefrom a simple cock, which may be left partly open--to any type of aumay be egu ated and the flow continued through t e mixture.

Of course, I am aware that many details of the construction may be varied. I therefor. patent otherwise than necessitated bythe prior art. i ,I claim'as my invention:

1. In a device of the class described the mixing tank connected to discharge lime and water-in solution to the still, pneumatic means for agitating the lime and wathe still and valves so disposed as to control the flow to the still and to automatically open and shut the discharge valve to regu late the quantity of material delivered to the still.

2. In a device of the class described an material, means aflording communication between the pressure tank and still, means for supplying pressure in thepressure tank to force the material therein into\ the still, avalve for controlling the discharge of material from the tank to the ammonia still and means 'forQintermittently opening material, means for intermittently affording communication between the pressure tan cock 1 and whereby'the discharge of water charges the water or other suitable fluid 7 air is continuously delivered through the tomatic safet valve, whereby the pressure fore do not purpose limiting this application combination with an ammonia still of a 9 ter and elevating the same for admission to -00 ammonia still, a pressure tank for receiving sure in the tank for thoroughly mixing the and ammonia still to intermittently admit a quantity of material from the tank to the still, and means for regulating the rate 0 operation of the intermittent means.

5. In a device of the class described, a pressure tank adapted to contain material, means for forcing .the material from the tank, an automatically operating discharge valve for admitting the material from the tank, an automatically acting controlling valve for controlling the operation of the discharge valve and a timing valve for reg-' ulating the rate of action of the controlling and the discharge valves.

6. In a device of the class described an ammonia still, a tank for receiving lime water, means affording communication between the same and still, means for deliver- 1 ing pneumatic pressure into the tank for forcing the lime water-into the still and means for interrupting the delivery of lime water to the still to deliver predetermined quantities to the still atthe proper time.

7 The combination with a receptacle .for slaking lime, a pressure tank adapted to receive the slaked lime, an ammonia still and pneumatic means :Eorboth thoroughly mixmg theslaked lime and forcing the 'same into the'still. i i 4 I 8. In a device of the class described an ammonia still, a lime. receptacle, a pipe adapted to deliver into the still, a valve in the pipe, means for supplying compressed subscribing witnesses.

air to ,agitate the lime in the; tank, and

means for admitting c'ompfessed air to opvalve to open the pipe.

9. In a device of the class described an ammonia still, a lime receptacle, a pipe adapted to deliver into the still, a valve in.

the pipe, means for supplying compressed air to agitate the lime in the tank, means for admitting compressed air to operate the valve to close the pipe and for cutting off the compressed air adapting the valve to open the pipe, and means for regulating the-length ofttim'e the valve is closed and Open.

10. In a device of the class described an ammonia still, a pressure tank for containing lime water, a pipe opening into the side of the still, a discharge pipe opening from the pressure tank adapte to discharge into the first named pipe, a valve for controlling the discharge pipe and mechanism for delivermg pressure to agitate the lime water in the tanki to force the same throu h the discharge tank and to operate the va ve.

In testimony whereof I have hereuntosubscribed my name in the presence oftwo JOHN s. UNGER. Witnesses: Y

E. HANNAH, LAWRENCE REIBSTEIN. 

